Valentin Elizalde Biography

1 February 1979, Etchojoa Jitonhueca, Sonora, Mexico, d. 25 November 2006, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Elizalde became popular in the late 90s, singing with Mexican bands in the norteño tradition. His father, also a singer, died in a road accident. Nicknamed El Gallo De Oro (the Golden Rooster), Elizalde had some successes with records of Como Me Duele, Ebrio De Amor, Mi Virgencita, Soy Asi, Vencedor and Vete Ya. Among other songs in Elizaldes repertoire were Por Las Parrandas, La Vida No Es, El Corrido De Manuel, Los Pilares De La Carcel, Aunque Te Enamores, A Mis Enemigos, Y No Me Lo Das, Para Que Olvidar, Zenaida Ingrata, La De Enfrente, La Tambora Va A Sonar, Que Vivan Las Mujeres, Paloma Errante, Sobre La Tumba De Mi Padre, Rama Verde, Mi Amante, El Espejo and Adiós A Mi Lira. Among the many albums made in his short career is 2004s Herencia Mexicana, on which he appears with Lalo Elizalde, Franco Elizalde and Joel Elizalde.

The lyrics of some of Elizaldes songs carried messages critical of Mexican drug traffickers, in particular Los Zetas. Following a concert at a private function in Reynosa, Elizaldes car was chased and fired upon on a public road. He and two of the three others in the car, manager, Mario Mendoza, and driver, Raymundo Ballesteros, died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.